Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘PKMRhips03’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhipsalidopsis  plant named ‘PKMRHIPS03’ particularly characterized by its compact plant habit; dense and bushy plant form; moderate growth rate and a upright growth habit; purple colored buds; and large, upright purple flower.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘PKMRhips03’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofRhipsalidopsis, botanically known as Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida sometimesreferred to as Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose, including EpiphylopsisBerger, commonly known as either Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PKMRhips03’.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Christian Hald Madsen, in Søhus,Denmark.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar originated from a cross made by theinventor in 2006 in Søhus, Denmark. The female and male parents areunpatented, proprietary Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida cultivars. The newRhipsalidopsis cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in 2010 in Søhus, Denmark. The inventor selected‘PKMRhips03’ on the basis of its flower color and compact, freelybranching, upright growth habit.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar by phyllocladecuttings was first performed in 2010 in Søhus, Denmark, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true totype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘PKMRhips03’ which distinguish thisRhipsalidopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright growth habit;    -   2. Red-Purple Flowers (RHS N74D);    -   3. Moderately vigorous growth; and    -   4. Red-Purple buds (RHS N74A).

Data on the parent cultivars is no longer available for comparison withthe claimed cultivar.

The most similar commercial cultivar to the instant cultivar‘PKMRhips03’ is the Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘Andromeda’ (unpatented).Plants of the instant cultivar ‘PKMRhips03’ differ primarily from plantsof Rhipsalidopsis ‘Andromeda’ in the following characteristic:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘PKMRhips03’ have a more upright growth habit than        plants of ‘Andromeda’;    -   2. Plants of ‘PKMRhips03’ have yellow-green phylloclades        (closest to RHS 147A) whereas plants of Rhipsalidopsis        ‘Andromeda’ have darker green phylloclades (between to RHS 137A        and RHS 137B);    -   3. Plants of ‘PKMRhips03’ have tepals colored red-purple, RHS        N74D whereas plants of Rhipsalidopsis ‘Andromeda’ have tepals        colored red-purple, between RHSN74 B and RHS N74C; and    -   4. Plants of ‘PKMRhips03’ have a green colored ovary (RHS 138A)        whereas plants of Rhipsalidopsis ‘Andromeda’ have a yellow-green        colored ovary (between RHS 146A and RHS 146B)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips03’ showing the colors as true asis reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colorsin the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited inthe detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colorof ‘PKMRhips03’.

FIG. 1 shows a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMRhips03’ grown in a 5 cmpot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical buds and flowers and a singlephylloclade of ‘PKMRhips03’.

FIG. 3 shows a comparison of a typical plant of ‘PKMRhips03’ with atypical plant of the comparison variety ‘Andromeda’ and with anothercomparison Rhipsalidopsis variety ‘7304G’ (labelled with its CPVOapplication No. ‘2007/1169’; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,238.)

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips03’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘PKMRhips03’ asgrown in a glass-covered greenhouse in Fyn, Denmark, under conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice,where day temperatures in the greenhouse average 18° C. and nighttemperatures in the greenhouse average 16° C. Ambient light levels usedwhile growing plants of ‘PKMRhips03’ are +50 Wm². No growth retardantswere used when growing plants of ‘PKMRhips03’.

The age of the ‘PKMRhips03’ plants described is 10-12 months old andgrown in 5 cm pots. The photographs and descriptions were taken duringthe winter season. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition, except where generalcolors of ordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose.        -   Common name.—Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus.        -   Variety denomination.—PKMRhips03.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Unpatented, proprietary            Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unpatented, proprietary            Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar.-   Propagation: By phylloclade cuttings.    -   -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—In a greenhouse,            about 2 months at 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fine, well-branched.-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Perennial, Epiphyte.        -   Overall shape.—Upright.        -   Form.—Dense and Bushy.        -   Growth habit.—Branched.        -   Branching habit.—Three new phylloclades forming at the            apical end of older phylloclades. No pinching required.        -   Growth rate.—Slow.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—About 10-12 months are required to produce a            finished flowering plant.        -   Size at maturity.—Height (soil level to top of plant,            including flowers): About 7-8 cm. Spread: About 8 to 10 cm.-   Stem: None, older phylloclades may turn woody with age (several    years).-   Phylloclade:    -   -   Arrangement.—Phylloclades form at the apex of older            phylloclades to form branches.        -   Aspect.—Upright to arching (from basal phylloclade).        -   Strength.—Strong (from basal phylloclade).        -   Length.—About 20-40 mm.        -   Width.—Up to 22 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Oval.        -   Apex shape.—Truncate.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Crenate. Can be purple, between RHS 83A and RHS 83B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Approx. 1-5 hairs up to 4 mm long at areoles            along margins.        -   Color of mature phylloclade.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS            147A, yellow-green, the central part can be a little            brighter.        -   Venation.—None.-   Flower description:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs from February to            April (northern hemisphere), but can be changed by short day            photo-treatment and cold treatment. Flowers persistent,            sessile.        -   Flowering response time.—About 8 to 9 weeks after end of            cold treatment.        -   Flowering longevity (dependent on temperature and light            conditions).—About 5 to 6 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Quantity of flowers per terminal phylloclade.—About 1 to 3.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—About 20 to 30,            depending on plant size.        -   Flower bud.—Length: Ranging from 0 to 25 mm (before            anthesis). Width: Ranging from 0 to 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid to            lanceolatoid. Color: Larger Buds (over 1 cm): RHS N74A,            Red-Purple. Smaller Buds (up to 1 cm): Between RHS N74A and            N74B, Red-Purple.        -   Flower.—Type: Single. Shape: Actinomorphic. Aspect: Upright            to vertical during development. Persistent or self-cleaning:            Persistent. Height: About 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm (including            ovary). Diameter: Up to 7.5 cm.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Actinomorphic; not fused. Quantity:            15-20. Length: Ranging from 3 mm to 35 mm. Width: Ranging            from 0 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Apical Whorl: Fused. Basal Whorl: Free. Margin: Entire.            Appearance: Matte. Texture: Smooth and Silky. Color (When            Opening): Upper and lower surfaces: RHS N74A, red-purple.            Color (When Fully Opened): Upper and lower surfaces: RHS            N74D, red-purple. Color Fades to: RHS 61A, red-purple.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity: Many (>100). Anther: Shape:            Oblong. Length: About 1 mm. Color: RHS 17A, yellow-orange.            Filament: Length: 15 mm. Color: RHS N74A, red-purple.            Pollen: Amount: Plenty. Color: RHS 17A, yellow-orange.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Quantity: 1. Stigma: Shape: Ovoid. Color:            Between RHS 155A and RHS 155B, white. Style: Length: 15 mm.            Color: Base: RHS NN155C, white. Apex: RHS N74A, red-purple.            Ovary: Shape: obdeltoid with a broad base. With ribs.            Length: 6 mm. Width: 8 mm. Color: RHS N138A, green.-   Seeds/fruit: None observed.-   Disease/pest resistance and susceptibility: Not tested.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 2° C.    and to a high temperature about 40° C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘PKMRHIPS03’,as illustrated and described herein.